Phytoseiid predatory mite releasing system and method for production

Abstract

The present invention in general relates to the field of biological crop protection by use of phytoseiid predatory mites. More particularly the present invention relates to a system for releasing a phytoseiid predatory mite in a crop and novel uses of host mites in such phytoseiid predatory mite releasing system. The phytoseiid predatory mite releasing system according to the invention and the uses according to the invention are characterised by the selection a host mite species having an intrinsic growth rate (rm) of <0.28.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A composition for releasing Phytoseiid predatory mites, the composition comprising:
 a population of the Phytoseiid predatory mite, wherein the Phytoseiid predatory mite is selected from  Amblyseius swirskii , and  Neoseiulus cucumeris;    
 a food source for the individuals of the Phytoseiid predatory mite population, comprising:
 a population of a first factitious host mite that is a factitious host for the Phytoseiid predatory mite, wherein the first factitious host is  Lepidoglyphus destructor ; and 
 a population of a second factitious host mite that is a factitious host for the Phytoseiid predatory mite, wherein the second factitious host is  Carpoglyphus lactis ; and 
 
 a carrier comprising a food source for the host mites. 
 
     
     
       2. The composition according to  claim 1 , wherein the Phytoseiid predatory mite is  Neoseiulus cucumeris.    
     
     
       3. The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the Phytoseiid predatory mite is  Amblyseius swirskii.    
     
     
       4. The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the carrier comprises humidified bran and nutrients. 
     
     
       5. The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the carrier is selected from the group consisting of wheat bran, buckwheat husks, rice husks, saw dust, corn cob, and grits. 
     
     
       6. The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the food source for the host mites comprises sugar. 
     
     
       7. The composition of  claim 6 , wherein the sugar is selected from the group consisting of allose, altose, dextrose, glucose, sucrose, mannose, gulose, idose, galactose, talose, fructose, saccharose, lactose, and arabinose. 
     
     
       8. The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the food source for the host mites is selected from the group consisting of bran, rolled oats, corn grits, gram flour, buckwheat flour, cereal flours, dried fruit, jam, dried insects, and poultry meal. 
     
     
       9. A method for controlling a crop pest; the method comprising administering a composition according to  claim 1  to a crop to control the crop pest.